Heraclius
Sign in to saveHeraclius (, ; 11 February 641) was Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exarch of Africa, led a revolt against the unpopular emperor Phocas.
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Heraclius was a Byzantine emperor who ruled from 610 to 641 and came to power by leading a revolt against an unpopular predecessor in 608, alongside his father who governed the North African province. His reign marked an important transition in Byzantine history during a period when the empire faced significant internal and external challenges.
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Person · Open Library
- Born
- 0575-01-01
- Died
- 0641-02-11
- Works
- 1
Top works
- The Boke Intitulede Eracles and ... of Godefrey of Boloyne (Heraclius-Caxton, Westmester, 1481)
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- 10
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Article
19 sectionsContents
- Origins and early life
- Revolt against Phocas and accession
- Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628
- Persian advance
- Byzantine counter-offensive and resurgence
- Byzantine–Arab wars
- Legacy
- Recovery of the True Cross
- Islamic view of Heraclius
- Family and personal life
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Sources
- Primary
- Books
- Journals
- Further reading
- External links
Heraclius (, ; 11 February 641) was Byzantine emperor from 610 to 641. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the Exarch of Africa, led a revolt against the unpopular emperor Phocas.
Heraclius's reign was marked by wars against the Persians and the Arabs. Heraclius immediately took charge of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628 upon his accession, but his leadership initially did little to stem Persian ascendency in the war; after personally losing the Battle of Antioch (613), the Persians were able to take Syria and Egypt, reducing the Empire to Asia Minor. Heraclius, however, avoided total defeat and initiated reforms to rebuild and strengthen the military. Heraclius drove the Persians out of Asia Minor and pushed deep into their territory, defeating them in 627 at the Battle of Nineveh and devastating much of Mesopotamia. The Persian Shah Khosrow II was overthrown and executed by his son Kavad II, who soon sued for a peace treaty, agreeing to withdraw from all occupied territory. Heraclius won the war, but his Empire was deeply strained.
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570s births641 deaths7th-century Byzantine emperors7th-century Byzantine generals7th-century rebelsArmenian Byzantine emperorsByzantine CappadociansByzantine consulsByzantine people of the Arab–Byzantine warsDhu'l-QarnaynHeracliusLeaders who took power by coupPeople of the Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628